Receptionist

Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust; Staplefield; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension Scheme - LGPS/TPS

Cycle Scheme

Employee Wellbeing

Staff Discounts

Job summary

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust (Brantridge School) is seeking a Receptionist/Administrator to support the School Office Manager. The role handles visitor coordination, calls, and day-to-day admin in a busy school office during term time.

The successful candidate will be part of a friendly team, ensure smooth procedures, and help maintain child-protection compliant reception operations. Starts January 2027.

Qualifications

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above.
• Experience of working in a school office environment.
• Experience of administration and Microsoft Office.
• Experience of working collaboratively as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Receive all visitors and enquiries, handling them courteously and efficiently.
• Answer calls, transfer to staff and take messages as required.
• Monitor reception area, maintain tidy space and update literature.
• Distribute mail, prepare letters and reports as needed.

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Brantridge School, Staplefield Place, RH17 6EQ

Working Pattern: 36 hours per week, term time only – Monday to Thursday 8.30-4.15pm, Friday 8.30-4pm

this role starts in January 2027

Brantridge School is a specialist setting for boys aged 5 to 11 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC). Nestled in the Sussex Weald near Haywards Heath, the school is based in a beautifully adapted country manor house surrounded by expansive grounds, an ideal environment for learning and growth.

Our pupils benefit from a rich and engaging curriculum, including an exciting on-site outdoor learning programme. At Brantridge School, we take pride in offering a flexible, personalised approach that supports every child as an individual, helping them to thrive both academically and emotionally.

Dedicated and experienced staff work with families to ensure children make real progress at Brantridge School, and parental feedback is overwhelmingly positive on the child-centred approach and flexibility of the staff team.

We are seeking an efficient, confidential and comprehensive Receptionist / Administrator to assist the School Office Manager, to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the school office. Under the management of the School Office Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day organisation and administration of the school office and it’s procedures. Delivering the support and service in a proactive, thorough, methodical, and creative manner and offering a professional and reliable hub for the school.

Key Responsibilities:

• Receive all visitors, callers and inquiries, deal courteously and efficiently with all visitors, parents, local authority officials, medical officers, suppliers etc.
• To deal effectively with telephone calls, transferring callers to relevant staff and taking and passing on messages when required
• Receive all incoming calls and emails to the school, responding, and routing/taking messages. Obtain or make outgoing calls as requested
• To ensure the reception area remains tidy, and that literature and forms are updated and replenished as necessary
• To monitor main entrance and reception area
• To ensure visitors, agency staff and contractors sign in, issuing passes to visitors with reference to the school’s child protection policy
• Communicate and contact parents using email and telephone
• Responsible for the provisions and providing refreshments as appropriate to visitors
• To be aware and support the school’s (OHCAT) commitment to equal opportunities. To ensure a commitment to equal opportunities in as all aspects of practice
• Produce letters, reports, flyers and notices etc as required
• To monitor the school email account, responding to enquiries or forwarding messages to the correct recipient as required
• To open and distribute incoming mail
• Distribution of outgoing letters, newsletters, leaflets etc
• Duplicating/photocopying of school correspondence, filing and any other administrative tasks in the primary school office as directed
• Responsible for the provisions and providing refreshments as appropriate to visitors
• Stamp and post outgoing mail
• Keep all filing up to date
• Any other general admin duties

Key Requirements:

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above.
• Experience of working in a school office environment.
• Experience of administration and Microsoft office.
• Experience of working collaboratively as part of a team.

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme and Free Virtual GP Appointments
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.

Brantridge School is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.

We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.

Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.

As a large specialist education provider, we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.

It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT, and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.

To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.

Closing Date: 3rd October 2026

Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026

To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.

Safeguarding Statement

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.